Vermont senators join calls for Franken's resignation

Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken says he knows he "let a lot of people down" - his constituents, colleagues and staff - in the face of sexually inappropriate behavior. He's vowing to regain their trust.
AP

Vermont's senators joined calls Wednesday for Sen. Al Franken's resignation in the wake of new allegations of sexual misconduct.

Within hours after a report by Politico about a new accuser, at least eight U.S. senators, including Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Kamala Harris of California and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, said the Minnesota lawmaker must go. Politico cited an unnamed Democratic congressional aide who said Franken cornered her in a studio in 2006 and forcibly tried to kiss her. Franken was elected in 2008 and had a long career as a comedian before that.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said Wednesday that Franken's announcement should be that he is resigning.

"We are now at a crossroads in American culture. And it is an important one," Sanders said in a statement. "The way we treat women in our country has been abysmal in almost every way. We are finally addressing the issue of sexual harassment, and we need to get it right."

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U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks to members of the Vermont Democratic Party in Burlington on Friday, May 5, 2017.(Photo: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS)

Franken was the first sitting lawmaker in Washington to be publicly accused. A Senate ethics panel opened a preliminary inquiry after at least six women accused Franken of groping and other unwelcome conduct.

Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the longest-serving member of the House, announced his resignation Tuesday in the wake of multiple sexual harassment claims against him.